• Make doing the right thing a habit

    There are many versions of the origin of the military hand salute. One version has it that in the days of the great Roman Empire, citizens would raise their right hand to show that they did not have a weapon in order to gain access to certain locations where the upper class resided. According to

  • You are the friend, parent, leader your values define

    Recently I traveled home to see my family and celebrate my daughter's first birthday and my 40th. During that trip I thought about my family's values, what I had learned over my life and what I will be passing along to my daughter. My wife and I talked about what we thought important to teach our

  • Lorenz on Leadership -- A tale of two instructors

    Air Education and Training Command is primarily made up of students and instructors. On the surface, the instructors simply teach certain skills so that students are ready for new challenges. In reality, they contribute so much more. Instructors make us better Airmen and continually raise our level

  • Developing a leadership philosophy

    What makes a good leader? What characteristics do good leaders have in common? How are leaders measured? I asked myself these questions while developing my leadership philosophy in preparation for squadron command. My bosses at Air Education and Training Command, Financial Management, Col. Chip

  • Developing our Airmen... a far reaching goal

    Over the past few weeks, I've shared my thoughts and goals for Team Vance during my second year of command. Mission execution, perfecting emergency management and establishing contract compliance as a core competency are focused on how we do what we do. The fourth goal, and the most far reaching, is

  • Making first impressions in the First Command

    You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Every year, thousands of people come through the Vance main gate. For many of them, whether Airmen, family members, civilians or joint and international partners, Vance will be their first impression of the real U.S. Air Force. So what burden

  • Finding the enigma…

    While stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, last year, I was blessed with an incredible opportunity to coach high school football. I was interviewed for the line and linebacker coaching positions, since I'd played at those spots for many years, including three Texas semi-pro seasons in

  • No gray area for blue backpacks

    As 221 newly-commissioned second lieutenants become part of Team Vance, there is an important message to be relayed concerning the appropriate wear of backpacks while in uniform. This article is about my own recent noncompliance with regulations. I have worn my standard issue U.S. Air Force Academy

  • Bring more than a good plan

    Up until a few weeks ago I was just like almost every other pilot trainee in the Air Force, thinking that I would never have a driving under the influence of alcohol charge. I have always been good at planning in advance for a ride if I was going out for the evening or taking my turn as a designated

  • Lorenz on Leadership –Technological change

    I am a digital immigrant. You see, in the summer of 1972, as a senior at the Air Force Academy, I spent $125 on a small "personal computer." At roughly $650 in today's dollars, the small unit was able to do four things: add, subtract, multiply and divide. It was a cutting edge ...